It turns out my stubborn nature is stronger than my dislike of exercise. I walked for about an hour today along the Whitechapel Road, determined to find somewhere to get a front door key cut...with no success. But I got lots of interesting pictures; selected ones above. If you walk west along the Whitechapel Road from Stepney Green tube you pass endless shops selling international phone cards and cut price sequinned dresses. There are no chain stores at all (although I did find a Sainsbury's hidden behind the library). Many of the people you meet are clearly Bengali; the rest from an assortment of other places. A north African bloke tried to start a conversation with me in French today - possibly because I was taking photographs so he assumed I was a tourist... not many tourists on Whitechapel Road. It's kind of run down, but in an interesting way. The East London Mosque is a very impressive sight - the other day I was sitting in the Muslim Aid fairtrade cafe and we heard the lunchtime call to prayer. I felt as if I were back in Beirut.
If you keep walking west, then swerve a bit through Brick Lane, you will end up in Old Spitalfields Market - packed with tourists, middle class shoppers, trendy wine bars. It has a very different feel. It wasn't a pleasant contrast. I think it's because the area just drips wealth - I can't imagine many people from Whitechapel shop in Spitalfields. I found my 'local' Starbucks - around 30 mins walk from my house. Well, if I get REALLY desperate...
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